2008 NFL Draft Round 1 Review

My mock draft flopped. There were just too many deals completed with teams jumping around to pick guys they wanted. It's funny how teams say they take the best player on the board approach but if that's the case then there shouldn't be any moving up to draft a particular player. Despite my poor mock draft the draft day party was a blast. My buddy Brian was a great host and there was a good group of guys to share some laughs and drinks with while the picks roll in. I'll leave it at that. No blog review of the party. What happens in the draft war room stays in the draft war room

Here is a list of the first round.

1. Miami - Jake Long - OT - old news
2. St. Louis - Chris Long - DE - safest pick in the draft should help Rams improve sack total
3. Atlanta - Matt Ryan - QB - nothing like starting to rebuild a franchise by risking a 3rd pick overall on okay QB. I think this will be a bust pick when we look back on it.
4. Oakland - Darren McFadden - RB - the Raiders have two explosive weapons on offense. McFadden will help QB Jamarcus Russell.
5. Kansas City - Glen Dorsey - DT - Chiefs were happy to see him here at 5.
6. New York Jets - Vernon Gholston - DE - he rounded out the consensus top 6 guys.
7. New Orleans - Sedrick Ellis - DT - Saints moved up to take Ellis.
8. Jacksonville - Derrick Harvey - DE - Jags make a big splash and move up to take Harvey. Great move! The Jags have a lot going for themselves right now and they learned last year home field advantage would be a nice thing to have but the only way they can get that is to win the division and that means beating Manning and the Colts. They took another step closer in doing that if Harvey pans out.
9. Cincinati - Keith Rivers - LB - Bengals need all kinds of help on D.
10. New England -Jared Mayo - LB - I like to think that the Pats thought they could get Harvey here then were scooped by the Jags. I'm going to run with that thought. Instead the Pats missed Harvey and Rivers and Ellis and reach to get Mayo. To me that's fun to think. The downside is I think Mayo looks like a player and the Pats probably got a dandy.
11. Buffalo - Leodis McKelvin - CB - the Bills resiste the tempation to reach for a WR and pick up a corner. Gotta have a corner if you play Tom Brady twice.
12. Denver - Ryan Clady - OT - as anticipated the Broncos beef up the o-line.
13. Carolina - Jonathon Stewart - RB - Panthers roll the dice on Stewart and his turf toe.
14. Chicago - Chris Williams - OT - Bears don't go for Otah and the power and pick Williams and his quickness..very interesting.
15. Kansas City - Brandon Albert - OT - Chiefs beef up both lines in the first 15 picks. They are happy.
16. Arizona - D.Rodgers-Cromartie - C - Cardinals don't upgrade at RB with Mendenhall and instead go with a corner.
17. Detroit - Gosder Cherlius - OT - Lions pass on Mendenhall too but beef up the line to protect Kitna and establish power runing game with the monster Gosder. Too bad they don't have any power running backs.
18. Baltimore - Joe Flacco - QB - Ravens moved down to 26 with the trade with the Jags then moved up to 18 to get Flacco. They must really like this guy and were worried other teams did too otherwise why trade up and reach for him. Move over Kyle Boller.
19. Carolina - Jeff Otha - OT - The Panthers can't believe he is still on the board and move up to take him to protect new turf toe RB Stewart.
20. Tampa Bay - Aqib Talib - CB - I nailed this one. For some reason I could see Gruden in love with this guy despite his drug past.
21. Atlanta - Sam Baker - OT - The Falcons had the depth in picks to move up and take Baker. I guess if you put your franchise in the hands of a lanky QB you better get some decent protection.
22. Dallas - Felix Jones - RB - as predicted by most. I just can't believe that with all the trading in the first round and with Dallas having two picks they couldn't get in on the trading action and either move up or stock picks for later.
23. Pittsburgh - Rashard Mendenhall - RB - I'm sure I've spelled his name wrong and differently here a few times. It's just tricky to say and spell...kinda like the Steeler's QB.
24. Tennessee -Chris Johnson - RB - Titans reach for this speed demon. All kinds of great analysis on how running backs help out Vince Young and the Titans more than wideouts do. Where was that info before the draft?
25. Dallas - Mike Jenkins - CB - as predicted by most. Not a big surprise.
26. Houston - Duane Brown - OT - never heard of him.
27. San Diego - Antoine Cason - CB - one writer called this guy the best player in the draft.
28. Seattle - Lawerence Jackson - TE - never heard of him.
29. San Fransico - Kentwan Balmer - DT - saw this guy's name in the high 20s.
30. New York Jets -Dustin Keller - TE - Jets pick up Packer's pick here and select TE.
31. New York Giants - Kenny Philips - S - Defending champs get highest rated safety in the draft to fill the team's most pressing need. Is that nice?